Chinazom Onubogu

Figuring Dartmouth Out: The Life of Chinazom

My name is Chinazom Joyce Ebubechukwu Onubogu. Yes, it might be a handful to pronounce, but that's how many Nigerian names are — they carry meaning, history, and identity. As you might have guessed from my name, I'm from Nigeria. I spent the first sixteen years of my life there before moving to South Africa for the last two years of high school. Now, I'm here at Dartmouth as a first-year, trying to figure out life in Hanover one day at a time.

First day in front of Dartmouth's clock tower!

I'm also a middle child: two older siblings above me, two younger ones below me. People usually tilt their heads and give me a sympathetic look when they hear that, but honestly, I don't think I turned out with the typical "middle child syndrome." My parents did a good job balancing things, and I've never felt any less loved. If anything, being in the middle has taught me how to hold both sides together, how to listen, and how to mediate when needed.

One thing I absolutely love is dancing. I think throughout my short time here, it has been the one thing that makes me feel grounded. I'm part of an awesome dance troupe on campus called Ujima. 

Ujima dance troupe after practice!

In Ujima we focus on hip pop and contemporary dance, two types of dance I had never done before, but we will get to it in my next post. When I dance, it's like my whole body and mind fall into rhythm and I feel completely in control. It's my way of letting off steam after a long, stressful week, and it's also my way of showing joy. If I've ever danced for you, know that you are genuinely cared about by me. Sometimes it's even my way of saying thank you. Dancing is like a little language of its own for me.

I also really love food. I cook a lot — or at least, I try to whenever I can carve out the time. I enjoy experimenting with new recipes, mixing flavors, and most of all, recreating the tastes of home. Food is not just something to eat; for me, it's a way of remembering, of staying connected to where I come from, even when I'm far away. Sharing food with others is also one of my favorite things, because it feels like sharing a piece of myself.

This blog is a space where I get to share bits and pieces of my world — not just as a Dartmouth first-year, but as someone far from home, carrying pieces of Nigeria and South Africa with me, and trying to make them fit into this new chapter in Hanover. I hope that in some small way, my posts give you a glimpse of Dartmouth through my eyes.